10 VC Firms Investing in Impact
Plus insights on market trends for your industry.
Hello Impact Nation,
This week’s newsletter is plenty of insights for you, even if you are *not* planning to raise capital.
For managers, consultants, and staff, having a look at recently invested companies mean a list of potential clients or new employers.
For entrepreneurs *not* raising capital, it’s a great overview of market trends.
And for VC?
Well, if you are an impact VC yourself - and we didn’t mention your firm - drop us a message and get the recognition you deserve.
Without further ado, let’s move on to this week's newsletter. Enjoy!
This Week We Are Diving Into:
1. You are invited to Reset Connect and to the London Climate Action Week
2. 10 VC Firms Investing in Impact
3. Good Gossip
4. News & Opportunities
5. Coming Soon: Interview with Genevieve Leveille
Elisa
The Impact Lady
You are invited to Reset Connect and to the London Climate Action Week
Join us at the leading sustainability and net-zero event, for businesses, investors, and innovators!
Reset Connect is the UK’s largest sustainability ecosystem and green investment gathering. A flagship event of London Climate Action Week, it offers present & future net-zero business solutions and the financing to implement them.
Meet 100+ exhibitors.
Network with 1000+ investors and like-minded entrepreneurs & professionals.
Listen from 150+ speakers.
Join 50+ sessions from corporate, industry, ESG, and government thought-leaders on their sustainability insights, successes, advice, and future plans.
FREE REGISTRATION to the exhibition with access to the exhibition floor, 6 content hubs, and keynotes.
DISCOUNTED TICKETS for the conference with access to the full 150+ speakers, and to the exclusive networking events.
This is a special deal for Impact Nation:
Discount code: ItDc15
Insert the code when booking for a 15% discount.
Register free or buy your discounted ticket.
10 VC Firms Investing in Impact
3x5 Partners
Location: Portland, Oregon, USA
Industries: healthcare, climate
In their portfolio: Allakos, Arch Oncology, Good Therapeutics, InterVene, Koya, Vapotherm, Claros Technologies, Fervo Energy, Rubicon, Smart Wires, Source.
From the organization:
3x5 Partners is a venture capital firm that collaborates with passionate entrepreneurs who are developing solutions in response to global healthcare and climate needs. They seek opportunities in biotechnology, diagnostics, and medical devices, climate solutions companies that reduce and evolve the consumption of the planet’s limited natural resources.
Alante Capital
Location: Santa Barbara, California and New York, USA
Industries: deep tech, clean tech, and enterprise software
In their portfolio: Mango Materials, Circ, Lizee, Fit:Match, Treet, Flyp, Sway, ZZ Driggs, Novoloop
From the organization:
Alante Capital is a venture capital fund investing in innovative technologies that address climate change and enable a resilient, sustainable future for apparel production and retail. Alante Capital invests across deep tech, clean tech, consumer tech and SaaS.
Core Innovation Capital
Location: Los Angeles, California, USA
Industries: financial inclusion
In their portfolio: NerdWallet, Ripple, Oportun, Fundera, LoanSnap, Noyo,
From the organization:
They invest in companies that deliver more efficient, well-designed financial products that save people time and money, create upward mobility, and scale broadly – driving both profit margins and consumer value. Their investment Criteria are: focused on economic mobility and stability; mission and margin motivated teams; outsized value creation for US-based consumers; high growth, early-stage companies; $100k to $10m initial investments.
DBL Partners
Location: San Francisco, California, USA
Industries: clean energy, sustainable products & services, IT, healthcare
In their portfolio: Tesla, SolarCity, Powerlight, NEXTtracker, The RealReal, Andela, Brainscope
From the organization:
DBL Partners was formed with a “Double Bottom Line” investment strategy to invest in companies that can deliver top-tier venture capital returns (First Bottom Line), while working with their companies to enable social, environmental and economic improvement in the regions in which they operate (Second Bottom Line). DBL invests in and helps nurture outstanding entrepreneurs and companies in Cleantech, Information Technology, Sustainable Products and Services, and Healthcare.
InvestEco Capital Corporation
Location: Toronto, Canada
Industries: sustainable finance
In their portfolio: Mara, Evive, Acid League, Om Mushrooms, Tiny Organics, Gusta, Tree Island, Love Good Fats, Chickepea.
From the organization:
InvestEco’s main focus is investing in expansion-stage companies in North America that promote health and sustainability in the food and agricultural sector. Their companies typically have between $1 – 30M in revenues at the time of their initial investment, and they aim to hold their positions for about seven years.
LeapFrog Investments
Location: London, UK
Industries: financial inclusion, healthcare
In their portfolio: HDBank, CarDeckho, AllLife, Jumo, HealthfyMe, Medgenome, Ascent
From the organization:
LeapFrog makes an impact through private equity investments in high-growth, purpose-driven businesses in some of the world’s fastest-growing markets. With a focus on the emerging consumer and with integrated financial and social goals, LeapFrog is well-positioned to invest in the rise of a new emerging consumer class. Their portfolio increases access to financial services and healthcare in markets where these sectors are heavily underpenetrated.
Patamar Capital
Location: Singapore
Industries: global poverty, financial inclusion
In their portfolio: Ayoconnect, Kinara Capital, Vigo, Nikel, Mio, MyShubhLife, TapTap Send, Sayurbox, Supahands
From the organization:
Founded in 2011, Patamar got its name from the traditional Indian ‘dhow’ boat. This wooden, sail-powered boat was a historic mode of transportation in the Indian Ocean, which connected communities and facilitated economic exchange. Its purpose is to serve the hundreds of millions in Asia.
Potential VC
Location: Lightwater, Surrey, UK
Industries: climate, new finance
In their portfolio: Offgrid.finance, Tierra Foods, Deep Meta, Global Otec, Treecomony
From the organization:
Potential VC is a collection of funds targeting high-impact areas of innovation. They offer patient capital to founders and support to fund managers whose goals & consciousness align with Potential VC. Potential Climate VC is funding 120 early-stage UK-based climate startups to unlock crazy innovations to help save our planet & improve life for every human. Newfinance.vc funds the next leaders of finance.
Renewal Funds
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Industries: sustainability of food, water, climate
In their portfolio: Alter Eco, Aquatic Informatics, Horizon Distributors, Seventh Generation, Better Bean, Swiftly, Food Logiq
From the organization:
Renewal Funds is a mission venture capital fund investing in early growth stage companies to accelerate the transition to a sustainable economy. They invest in innovation that will advance the sustainability of food, water, and climate — contributing to a safer and cleaner planet for future generations.
True Wealth Ventures
Location: Austin, Texas, USA
Industries: gender equality, health, environment
In their portfolio: UnaliWear, BrainCheck, Dermala, Solstice, Atlantic Sea Farms.
From the organization:
True Wealth Ventures invests in smart female entrepreneurs, from consumer health innovators to sustainable product pioneers. Women-led, venture capital-backed start-ups financially outperform their male counterparts, utilizing less capital for a greater return. Despite the history of outperformance, there is a big blind spot in the market, creating a fantastic investment opportunity. That’s where the common-sense strategy of creating True Wealth comes in, with a mission to deliver superior returns to our investors, portfolio companies, and communities by investing in highly-scalable, women-led businesses that improve environmental and/or human health.
Good Gossip
Congrats to …
Kristina Kloberdanz ↪ has been appointed Chief Sustainability Officer at Macquarie Asset Management, a global financial services group operating in 33 markets in asset management.
Andreas Kodell and Stuart Smith ↪ have been appointed Head of Environmental Markets and Head of Commodities at ANZ, a leading sustainability bank.
Max Satel ↪ has been appointed Chief Financial Officer at Battery Mineral Resources, a battery minerals company providing shareholders exposure to the global mega-trend of electrification.
Lynette Lim ↪ has been appointed Director of Human Resources at Transport Capital, an investment management and financial advisory firm focused on Maritime and Aviation.
Upway ↪ raised €23.3M in a Series A round of funding to accelerate the adoption of electric mobility at this time of massive awareness about environmental issues. Lead Investors: Sequoia Capital and Exor Seeds. Other investors: Global Founders Capital, Henri Moissinac, co-founder and CEO of micromobility startup Dott and Moving Capital
Brevel ↪ raised $8.4M in a seed round to further develop its microalgae-based protein ingredient, SCiFi Foods’ rebrand and major VC backer, and Cocuus’ 3D printing alt-protein tech.
GOMYCODE ↪ raised $8M in a Series A round of funding to combat the 30% unemployment rates in some of the African nations. Lead Investors: AfricInvest and Proparco. Other investors: Wamda Capital
Klar ↪ raised $70M in equity funding to acquire more users organically. lead investor: General Atlantic
News & Opportunities
Canada Post commits C$1 billion (US$785M) to build a 100% electric fleet. A great opportunity for electric vehicles and truck companies.
US President Biden leverages the Defense Production Act (DPA) to accelerate domestic production of clean energy technologies. By invoking the DPA, President Biden can deploy federal funds directly into a stagnant economy, and push the Congress for further green energy investments.
Deutsche Bank raided by the police over allegations of greenwashing. The raid adds further pressure on Deutsche Bank DWS Chief Executive Asoka Woehrmann.
The EU will enforce 40% quota for women on corporate boards. EU companies could also be fined for failing to recruit enough women to their non-executive boards.
French financial authority AMF and its Dutch equivalent call for a European regulation of ESG data, ratings, and services.
Singapore establish guidelines for green bond issuance by the public sector, and announces S$35 billion (US$25 billion) of green bonds by 2030.
Neuberger Berman reframes its $35 million global high yield fund to focus on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), in partnership with UBS.
🚀 COMING SOON
Impact Investing in Blockchain and Agritech - With Genevieve Leveille, CEO and Founder of Agriledger
Video interview available from Thursday - Stay tuned
It should not be necessary to add any disclaimer but … Let’s say it anyway! This is not financial or tax advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. DYOR - Do Your Own Research!